My BEAUTIFUL Necklace!

Here is the necklace that Josh gave me last night, I love it so much that I wanted to share it with y'all!! Isn't it BEAUTIFUL!!! And the sweetest part(beside the fact that it came from my sweetie) is that it all means something! The heart symbolizes our courtship, and the cross and diamond in the middle of the heart symbolizes Christ being the center of our courtship.

Our first night together as a couple!

Mine and Josh's first picture together as a couple! (Josh looks great, but I don't look so swell in this one...hopefully I will get one that I look better in soon! LOL)

Daddy showing Josh his salt and pepper shakers he made when he was in metal-works shop in HS.

Josh and I looking at stuff on the computer.

Josh and I looking at stuff.

Josh looking very HANDSOME!

Ronnie and Jessica with us at Ryans.

Bro. Jim and Sis. Jennifer (Josh's pastor and his wife)

Momma and I enjoying our food.

Daddy talking to Bro. Robert and Sis. Vicki. (Josh's parents)

Josh and I talking at supper.

Josh still looking very HANDSOME!!!

Tonight was a very special night for Josh and I. Tonight was the first night we had seen each other since the day before we started courting! Tonight is also when both sets of parents got together to discuss some things about the courtship. These pics are out of order...so, the ones on top are supposed to be last and the last first! We went out to eat first and the Josh came over to the house. He decided to surprise me with a gift! He gave me a gold cross necklace that has a silver heart around it and what looks like a diamond in the middle of the cross...it is BEAUTIFUL! I love it!!! He is just so sweet!!! I still can't thank God enough for giving me such a wonderful man!!!

Our Story!!!

I've got a little bit of time before I need to do the dishes to tell the wonderful story of how Josh and I met and how we got to our courtship. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the story!!!

My Dad preached a revival back in June for Bro. Jim Veitch and Josh was at that revival. He saw me and he said the Lord really began to work in his heart and lead him to pray about me. I never even saw him there!! (I'm still not too sure how I missed seeing such a handsome guy!) I guess it was about July or so that I met Josh on the internet on a site called BigBaptist. I was reading his profile and saw that he went to Bro. Veitch's church, so I left a comment telling him that we have known his pastor for years. We began to comment back and for and started to become friends. Then we both found each other again on Facebook. We began to talk even more over that and became even better friends.

On December 6th Daddy was invited to preach at a church for a Jubilee and Josh had said that he was going to be there and said that he was looking forward to meeting me and my family in person. Little did I know that God would do something special in my heart that day. When we went and I saw Josh for the first time in person...Wow! The minute I saw him the Lord began to work in my heart and impressed upon my heart to start praying about him. He was working the sound equipment in the sound area. I thought he was very handsome!!! :o) At the break for lunch we went and talked to Josh's mom and had a good time. But after Josh had gone to help someone with something and after I went back into the auditorium my Mom told Sis. Vicki (Josh's mom) jokingly that she was hoping that Josh and I would get together. At that moment Sis. Vicki began to cry and told my mom that the Lord had laid me on her heart for Josh and that she had been praying about it for a few weeks!

From December 6th and on I was continually praying that the Lord would show me what His will was concerning Josh, and on December 15th I got complete and total peace that Josh was the man that I would one day marry! Since I had gotten peace and my parents had gotten peace about Josh, I was just sitting back and waiting on God to work in Josh's heart. Little did I know that God was already moving on Josh's side of things and that things would happen so quickly!!!

We had gone to Josh's parents church for a Christmas service on the 23rd and decided to surprise Josh. We accomplished that and REALLY surprised him!! But anyways...back to the story! :o) After the meeting we went out to eat with Sis. Vicki and Josh to Arbys and sat and was able to talk for about 2 hours. After we all went home, I found that I couldn't sleep and just felt really impressed to pray for Josh, I was awake until about 4:30 Wednesday morning just praying and thinking things over.

On Christmas Eve I had gotten on my facebook to see that Josh's status said that he had been up till 5:00 that morning praying and thinking about somethings. Needless to say, that got me really excited!!! We got home from Christmas Eve dinner at my Grandparents house at about 10:00 that night, and when my mom checked her email she had an email from Sis. Vicki saying that Josh had been up all night praying and that the Lord had giving him peace about starting a courtship with me and that he wanted to know what the next step would be for us to begin courting. My Dad told him that since we already knew that he was God's will on our end and that since we knew where he stood on standard for a courtship that he had his permission to court me!!!

Josh knew that I had heard what was going on because my mom read the email out loud, so he rang in on me on Facebook chat and simply said "Can you believe this is happening?!?!" I told him that I couldn't believe it either! I said that I guessed we were officially courting and he said that yes we were, but that he wanted to ask me a question. I said okay and waited on the question, but I never expected to see the question that I saw!!!!!! Here is what it said. "Kristina _____ ______, would you do me the honor of entering into a courtship with me?" I about jumped out of my chair and started shouting!!! :o) Of course we all know what the answer was "YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!

So, as of Christmas Eve 2008 I am courting the most wonderful man! Josh is everything that I have ever prayed for and then some! God is so good!!! I just can't stop thanking Him for what He has done!!!

Soon, I promise!

I will post mine and Josh's story of how we started courting when I get the time to do it...I know y'all are waiting on it so, I will try and do it very soon!!! :o)

The BESTEST Christmas gift ever!

I'm Courting!!!

God gave me the BESTEST Christmas present ever! It was made official tonight! I am so excited!!! I guess you want to know his name, huh? Okay...his name is Josh, he is a great godly man, and I am so thankful that the Lord sent him my way!! There is nothing like the peace of God and KNOWING this is what God wants!!! All I can say is "WOW" and "GOD IS SO GOOD!"

Merry Christmas!

I'm not sure if I'll be posting before Christmas or not, so I just wanted to take this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I pray that all of you have a wonderful time enjoying the company of your family and friends!!!

My family and I will be pretty busy in this forth coming week. Momma has to work the rest of this week, as well as Daddy (thank the Lord he got a job). This Sunday night our church is having a special service. Our choir will be singing lots of Christmas songs, there will be TONS of specials, a fellowship to follow...oh and lets not forget, Bro. Joe will be preaching!!

Michelle is coming in town for Christmas (she has been in NC with my aunt), we are all looking forward to that! We will pick her up from the airport late Saturday night...she is so nervous, she has never flown before and she is flying alone. So pray for her!

We are trying to find a church to go to on Tuesday night, because of Wednesday being Christmas Eve our church canceled the service that night. Then of course on Christmas Eve our family will go to my Grandparents house and spend that evening eating and opening gifts with the entire family! Hopefully I will have pictures to post of Christmas either next week of the week after!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

What I did the past three days.

I spent Sunday through last night with my cousin Karlee. She had been sick with a fever and stuffy nose and was not able to go to daycare and my Aunt wasn't able to take off work. So I offered to stay with the little sick-ling. Here are some pictures that I took while Karlee was feeling a little better.

Karlee and her cheeseburger.

Karlee insisted that I take a goofy picture of myself...so I did!

Me and Karlee.

Last of all...Karlee and her very precious blankie.

Karlee is feeling a lot better now, she was able to go back to school today. Just pray that I don't end up getting sick. Because when I get sick then my dad gets sick...and he doesn't need that.

Time sure does fly!

It's hard to believe that we are already in December! It seemed like yesterday that Ronnie and Jessica got married, that we went into missions with the prison ministry, and that my baby sister turned eighteen. I just can't believe that the end of the year is already near. A lot has happened in this past year, both for the good and for the bad...but the Lord has been with us every step of the way and He has loved us and given us the grace to get through it all!!!

We got very good news on Tuesday or Wednesday (I can't remember which)!!! Ronnie and Jessica told us that they are expecting baby number three. Since Jessica had miscarried the last two, I just wanted to get on here and ask everyone to please pray for Jessica and the baby. The doctor put Jessica on some kind of hormone, progesterone I think...and it is supposed to really help. So just pray that Jessica will be able to carry this precious lil' one full term.

A Day of Thanks

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I want to take this time to thank all of my readers who have been faithful to read my posts! I appreciate all of you!

THANK YOU!

It'll be back...I promise!

Life has been kinda busy for the past week and a half. So, I haven't had the opportunity to do any posts on the booklet...but as the title says it will be back!!! I PROMISE! Just keep with me, I hope to still get some posts on here. :o)

Seven Royal Laws of Courtship Part III

Chapter 2
Tenants of the
Second Royal Law of Courtship
Part III of VI


"By the grace of Almighty God, I will arrive at
the marriage altar morally pure."

5. Understand the importance of "pacing" a relationship. This is essential in helping you arrive at the altar pure and chaste.
In order to properly pace a relationship you need to answer these questions:
a.) What is the safest age a serious relationship should start?
b.) What would be the best time marriage should be considered?
c.) At what pace should a relationship move so that it will peak in intensity no earlier than the proper timing for marriage?
I am going to offer here some practical advice based on Bible principles, common sense and over twenty years' experience working with teenagers. Some parents allow their teenagers to ride the romance roller coaster. Many let them start in junior high school or even before, allowing them to become involved in one dead-end romantic relationship after another. These "practice relationships" leave young people emotionally scared and vulnerable. Please consider the following suggestions.
a.) Spend your high school years serving the Lord, making friendships and preparing yourself for your future.
b.) Do not get into a serous boy-girl relationship during your high school years. When you graduate from high school, you should have all your options open. There will be an enormous difference between how you look at life on the day you turn sixteen years of age and how you view it on the day you turn twenty-one. Your view of yourself, of others, of God and of what is truly important will have gone through a dramatic change. I personally believe that most young people would be wise to wait until the end of this six-year period before pursuing a serious relationship.
c.) Most romantic relationships peak in intensity within a two-year period. What I mean by that is, after two years, you have exhausted every level that a proper relationship can rightly achieve and are ready to be married! If this is true, why start a serious relationship five years before you should be married?
If you do not properly pace your relationship, you will peak before you should and one of the following things will happen:
a.) You will get married before you should.
b.) You will break up with that person out of frustration.
c.) You will continue forward into areas intended to be developed after marriage.
None of these three leads to personal happiness, so exercise patience during your teen years. Let little steps be big ones. Enjoy all phases of your life. Build many friendships during your teen years and leave it up to God to develop one of these friendships into something more in His time and according to His perfect will.
6. Have a game plan.
Age 13-18: "I'm not going to get caught up in riding the romance roller coaster. God has someone He is preparing for me, and during these years I will prepare for that special one."
Age 18 and beyond: "The time has come for me to prayerfully consider other dedicated Christian young people as a possible partner for life. I will rely heavily upon the counsel of my parents and the Holy Spirit's leading. I refuse to get in too big of a hurry. I will begin preparing to accomplish what God has directed me to do. When God leads me to this one, I will pray for great wisdom in pacing our relationship so that we both enjoy each step as God turns our friendship into divine love."

Copyright 2004
by Ultimate Goal Publications
All rights Reserved
(Permission given by Author)

Seven Royal Laws of Courtship Part III

Chapter 2
Tenants of the
Second Royal Law of Courtship
Part II of VI


"By the grace of Almighty God, I will arrive at
the marriage altar morally pure."

3. Institute a personal "no-touch rule" and enforce it.
A personal no-touch rule means that you do not touch members of the opposite gender who are immediate family, nor do you allow them to touch you. The Bible tells us that this will guard you against fornication.
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man." (II Corinthians 7:1-2).
"Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (I Corinthians 7:1-2).
A personal no-touch rule will require you to build relationships based on friendship and respect instead of lust and selfishness. If a young man or a young lady claims to love you, then they will be committed to protecting your purity and your reputation.
It is impossible to maintain a pure mind without maintaining a high standard of physical restraint. No young person can handle a member of the opposite gender without stirring his/her own personal passions. We are commanded in the Bible not to defraud one another. Defrauding another means to stir up desires within them that cannot be rightly satisfied.
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (I Thessalonians 4:3-7).
The time to develope a physical relatonship is after marriage, not before. "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing" (Ecclesiastes 3:1...5).
"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4).
One step of romantic physical contact will lead to the next: holding hands>hugging>kissing>petting>ruined testimony.
I recently read in USA Today that 85% of single 17-year-olds admitted to having already lost their purity. If Christian young people insist of following the dating standards of the world, then they will live with the results of those standards. On the other hand, 100% of young people who institute a personal no-touch rule and anforce it arrive at the marrige altar morally pure. 100%!
4. Never place yourself in a situation that increases the temptation or the opportunity to be immoral. Never be alone or isolated as a couple.
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14).
There has been much written in the recent years concerning the difference between dating and courting. Let me summarize the difference simply. Courting is developing a relationship with an individual in the safty of a group. Dating involves a couple isolating themselves from the others and thus leaving themselves open to temptation. The world's dating philosophy has robbed many young people of their purity. Don't date alone in a car. Never be alone in either of your parents' homes. Stay in the safty of good Christian company. Isolation increases temptation and provides opportunity: it makes "provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof".

Copyright 2004
by Ultimate Goal Publications
All rights Reserved
(Permissions given by Author)